Hawaiian Ride for Youth supports WA College of Agriculture Narrogin and Narrogin Senior High School students

Hawaiian Ride for Youth riders visited the Western Australian College of Agriculture Narrogin and Narrogin Senior High School on Thursday to speak with students about mental health and show their support.

The 150 riders travelled 700km from Albany to Perth from March 25 to 29 for the 23rd Ride for Youth to raise money and awareness of youth mental health.

Suzanne Laidlaw made her riding debut this year and was nominated to share with Narrogin students how she overcame the challenges she faced when her house caught on fire and new husband suffered life-threatening burns in her early 20s.

Ms Laidlaw said the main motivator to keep going after the accident was a goals list she and her husband Dave started when they were 17, because they could see all the things they’d be giving up on if they didn’t push through.

She also taught the group how to play the Pollyanna game where a person looks at the good in everything, which she believes strengthens a growth mindset.

Ms Laidlaw encouraged Narrogin students to speak about their dreams and instate powerful goal-setting strategies.

“You’ve got an amazing life,” she said.

“Every single one of us here on this Earth is for a purpose.

“So dream whatever you want to dream, get it visible, share it with people, because when it’s really tough those guiding lights of those dreams and visions you have are a magnet that keep you going.

“They’re the guiding light that say ‘yeah, I can do another step’.”

First time rider Julia Sladden said her dad Mark Sladden, riding for the 11th time, was her biggest inspiration to complete the journey.

She said despite the heat and the pain in her legs it was rewarding to visit the schools and show their support to young people.

“They just need to speak out to any trusted adult, there are lots of people who truly care about young people’s mental health,” she said.